GEOGRAPHICAL CALL ROUTING FOR A NON-EMERGENCY CALLING SERVICE

• US 20070140452A1
• Filed: 03/01/2007
• Published: 06/21/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Labs Incorporated (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Labs Incorporated (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: TAMASI, Mark, THOMPSON, Brenda, SABINSON, Richard, FOSBURGH, Gregory
• Granted Patent: US 7,292,688 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/142.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/14 Delay circuits; Timers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/12 intelligent networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/14 with services dependent on location where the service is an information service H04M2242/15; services independent of location H04M3/42229
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/30 Determination of the location of a subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42 Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers specially adapted for wireless communication networks H04W4/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4228 in networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42348 Location-based services which utilize the location information of a target
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/44 Additional connecting arrangements for providing access to frequently-wanted subscribers, e.g. abbreviated dialling at the subscriber's set H04M1/27; automatic redialling H04M3/424
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/54 Arrangements for diverting calls for one subscriber to another predetermined subscriber based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; to voice mail H04M3/53308
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/047 Detection, control or error compensation of scanning velocity or position H04N1/0402 and H04N1/17 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/66 Traffic distributors
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/72 Finding out and indicating number of calling subscriber

Abstract

Location-based communications routing includes determining whether a network apparatus which receives a communication, from a calling party attempting to contact a service corresponding to at least one predefined service area, provides service to at least one of the at least one predefined service area. When the network apparatus provides service to multiple of the predefined service areas, the location-based communications routing includes determining whether the calling party is in one of the at least one predefined service area. When the calling party is in one of the at least one predefined service area, the location-based communications routing includes determining which predefined service area the calling party is in. The communication is routed based upon determining whether the network apparatus provides service to at least one of the at least one predefined service area.

Claims

1. A method for location-based communications routing, comprising:

determining whether a network apparatus which receives a communication, from a calling party attempting to contact a service corresponding to at least one predefined service area, provides service to at least one of the at least one predefined service area,

determining whether the calling party is in one of the at least one predefined service area when the network apparatus provides service to a plurality of the at least one predefined service area, and

determining which of the at least one predefined service area the calling party is in when the calling party is in one of the at least one predefined service area,

wherein the communication is routed based upon determining whether the network apparatus provides service to at least one of the at least one predefined service area.

2. The method according to claim 1,

wherein, when the network apparatus provides service to at least one of the at least one predefined service area, the communication is routed based upon determining that the network apparatus provides service to at least one of the at least one predefined service area.

3. The method according to claim 2,

wherein, when the calling party is in one of the at least one predefined service area, the communication is routed based upon determining that the calling party is in one of the at least one predefined service area.

4. The method according to claim 3,

wherein the communication is routed based upon determining which of the at least one predefined service area the calling party is in.

5. The method according to claim 1,

wherein, when the network apparatus provides service to only one of the at least one predefined service area, the communication is routed based upon determining that the network apparatus provides service to the one of the at least one predefined service area.

6. The method according to claim 1,

wherein the communication is a call placed using an abbreviated telephone number.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving information of the network apparatus,

wherein the information of the network apparatus is used to determine whether the network apparatus provides service to at least one of the at least one predefined service area.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a calling party number,

wherein the calling party number is used to determine whether the calling party is in one of the at least one predefined service area.

9. The method according to claim 8,

wherein the calling party number is used to determine which of the at least one predefined service area the calling party is in.

10. The method according to claim 1,

wherein the communication is routed using a destination number corresponding to the determined at least one predefined service area the calling party is in.

11. The method according to claim 1,

wherein the communication is a call received by a switch from the network apparatus and a processor determines whether the network apparatus is within the determined predefined service area based upon a signaling point code associated with the network apparatus.

12. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

defining the at least one predefined service area using at least one geographic boundary.

13. The method according to claim 1,

wherein the service comprises a non-emergency service.

14. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

storing information used by a processor to determine whether the calling party is in the at least one predefined service area.

15. The method according to claim 14,

wherein the stored information comprises location information of the calling party.

16. The method according to claim 15,

wherein the location information comprises zip code information.

17. The method according to claim 14,

wherein the stored information comprises location information of the network apparatus, the location information indicating whether the network apparatus services at least one of the at least one predefined service area.

18. The method according to claim 11,

wherein the communication is routed to a destination number corresponding to a closest destination to the calling party.

19. A computer readable medium for storing a computer program for location-based communications routing, comprising:

a service determining code segment that determines whether a network apparatus which receives a communication, from a calling party attempting to contact a service corresponding to at least one predefined service area, provides service to at least one of the at least one predefined service area;

a calling party determining code segment that determines whether the calling party is in one of the at least one predefined service area when the network apparatus provides service to a plurality of the at least one predefined service area, and

a service area determining code segment that determines which of the at least one predefined service area the calling party is in when the calling party is in one of the at least one predefined service area,

wherein the communication is routed based upon determining whether the network apparatus provides service to at least one of the at least one predefined service area.

20. An apparatus for determining location-based communications routing, comprising:

at least one processor that determines whether a network apparatus which receives a communication, from a calling party attempting to contact a service corresponding to at least one predefined service area, provides service to at least one of the at least one predefined service area, and that determines whether the calling party is in one of the at least one predefined service area when the network apparatus provides service to a plurality of the at least one predefined service area, and that determines which of the at least one predefined service area the calling party is in when the calling party is in one of the at least one predefined service area,

wherein the communication is routed based upon determining whether the calling party is in one of the at least one predefined service area and determining which of the at least one predefined service area the calling party is in.